Crazy Watercolor Brush Exercise (Extreme Brush Control & Technique!)

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Hi friends!
Today I'm proud to share with you a watercolor exercise I invented (well, haven't seen anyone else talk about this before), for improving your brush control.
This can be seen as a complementary exercise to the brush stroke exercise I share several days ago.
This is a really cool idea, that I think will help many of you improve your control of your brush and paint.
The brush I'm using is a Silver Black Velvet, size 12 (I also have a size 8 one). If you want to get it, here's an affiliate link to Amazon (You pay the same price, I get a commission): amzn.to/2EQik8e
Please let me know in a comment below if you gave it a try, and if you liked it.
And I'll talk to you soon! (:
- Liron
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[@Donna_G]

I have done this in the past. I wrote about painting a picture of where I live and that I scribbled in the grass. Holding the paint brush further from the ferrule helps to achieve that loose painting effect. I have another exercise for anybody who suffers from occasional artist block; or, you don't have a block but you just can't seem to create what you want. Pick up your brush in your non-dominant hand. It will give you a challenge and might even help you stay focused on your painting.

[@LironYan]

Oh that's fascinating! I heard about a similar application of this method. I love to write every day. I have a journal. This really helps me organize my thoughts. Today the writing really flows out of me, because I'm so well-trained in writing every day (did it for the past 6 months or so). But sometimes, when it would be challenging, I will do what you just described. For some reason it really helps to detach you from the routine / the known, and come up with new resources for inspiration. Great suggestion, I'll pin this comment. Thank you (:

[@marylupapada1026]

yep, non- dominant hand and also using both hands in mirroring and opposite patterns.

[@largaparker6370]

Hi. Toni Burke does a beautiful non dominant hand video! Sorry I don't have the link. She based it on a book she read. Awesome to try.

[@artsymargo]

I did this exercise to get to know my new #12 long round. I feel it's a really good way to get familiar with one's brushes in how the hairs move and the amount of water/pigment they lay down. Quite surprisingly, there's a directionality to the long round tip, so it wants to be twisted to get into tight spots. Backing off on the handle really does encourage the brush to do its own thing, and so the exercise informed me what the brush can and wants to do. This "crazy" exercise makes a lot of sense. The next "victim" will be my new Rosemary #8 Extended Point brush. It's weird and crazy already. Thank you for the ideas.

[@PatriciaGodboutArt]

I love thalo green!

[@oliferous]

That’s funny that you mention the basketball player as an analogy, one of my old drummers would go through our full band practices and practice on his own with 5 kg weights strapped to his ankles so that his double bass(kick drums) technique would get faster and after about six months of doing this, he was absolutely insanely fast! But thank you for the exercise my friend, it looks fun. I will definitely give it a try!

[@amexjam55]

Crazy indeed. I'll need to try this out. 😄

[@MikeTLive]

i did this exercise first small scale drawing shapes and filling them, then printed a faint giraffe print outline and first outlined the spots with the tip of my brush, then filled in the spots as in this exercise, and lastly filled in around the spots with a wash. three lessons on one sheet.

[@LironYan]

Awesome! I like using a sheet to do multiple passes of paint / linear shapes. Making the most out of one piece of paper (:

[@elaineashdown4012]

Hi Liron the crazier your exercises the better they are. It would really help as a warm up before starting a painting. Even while watching you it makes me want to get out my paints and give it a go even though its 22:30 here in the UK while I am watching and I really should be going to bed.

[@clarefriend1376]

Elaine Ashdown yes me too

[@LironYan]

I'm so happy to hear! (: I know this feeling from when I watch other artists' painting demos as well. I'm sure I'll discover some more challenging exercises, hope to share them soon (:

[@AlphaGeekgirl]

Whenever I finish a painting, I like to clean up my palette and mixing trays (OCD!), but I always feel like I am somehow wasting paint. But from now on, I will refrain from doing this, and instead, before I start a new painting, I will do your practice exercise with the excess leftover paint from my last session. That way I can get my hand "in the mood" AND I also get to start with a clean slate! :)

[@LironYan]

Happy this can help people better-use their supplies 😁🎨 I have another vid on how to be more economical in your use - I may create an improved version of it soon. OCD induced palette cleaning can be a good thing. A quick look at my terribly dirty palette is an instant proof 😂

[@lindawillis9967]

Thank you Liron for your Devil grip demo. It is a worthwhile exercise that develops brush stroke confidence.

[@dalemoyer]

I enjoyed this video and am going to start practicing more. I started watercolor painting two years ago and I love it. I only paint what I love. I’m a retired music teacher so I get practice, but I’m RETIRED. Practice makes perfect. You are fun.

[@LironYan]

Thank you so much ^_^ That's the best way to go!

[@krisbarber6208]

I really like this exercise. I will be on it!

[@dietzdesigndetails413]

This was great!!!! I know I will have books full of this type of page. Thanks for everything!

[@paulettelane6428]

This is a great exercise. I always pick up smaller brushes for wc so for this exercise I am using a 16. Yes, I was clumsy at first, but a 16 brush is becoming more comfortable in my hand even holding it at the top of the handle. Thanks for sharing this exercise. I will probably repeat it several times. it is addictive.

[@LironYan]

Oh, 16 sounds challenging, I'll need bigger sheet of paper (: My pleasure - happy to hear this helps!

[@tzipporahbragg9798]

Thank you, Liron. Great idea. And thank you for mentioning the Mastery book. I started that also and this inspired me to pick it up again.

[@TerrieJohnson731]

I am doing lots of spiral shapes and rain/tear drop shapes in my art Journal- trying to get a good clean looking spiral in many colors is harder than it seems! I am enjoying it! Let's see if I can get what I am going for! Thanks Liron!

[@patriciah3235]

I have learned so much from your videos. You are my new art guru. BTW in golf, the more you loosen your right hand grip, the better your stroke. Then, on a difficult putt (very short distance), you "choke down on the club" meaning you grip farther down the shaft for control. I LOVE PTHALO BLUE & GREEN. I think the pthalo haters fear the brilliance of these colors & don't integrate them in effective ways.

[@LironYan]

So happy to hear ^_^ Thank you. And that golf analogy is great 😀 I get what you mean haha. I'm definitely a little scared of their brilliance. It takes some skills of knowing where to use them (and also in what type of painting - animals, landscape, portrait etc.).

[@ianjackson5834]

strangely I trained as a sign writer in my youth and we did a exercise like the for painting long straight lines to find ware on a brush the best and quickest line is. thanks for this video

[@LironYan]

Oh, sounds like a great cousin-exercise to this one (: Thank you!

[@lindathaxton1994]

Like it & will try it in the morning, my regular paint &/or drawing time. Thank you for sharing

[@pipester48]

Always interesting Liron and trying to achieve better results. Great work and keep them coming :)

[@LironYan]

Thank you so much, will do (;

[@TerrieJohnson731]

LOL! My multi-color gradiated washed around multiple circles! Negative painting. I love the exercise and will continue doing it. IDK if it's been done b4, but it is helping me to paint better. I just worked too hard for awhile and laying low and spending the rest of the Summer getting to know a lot of new supplies. I have gesso and manila cardstock. (A lot of art journaling supplies and acrylic paints.)A chunk of it! No WC papers for awhile. When it starts to become more stress than fun for me, I am not doing it. I challenge myself, but this isn't my carreer. I will naturally improve while enjoying the process. Love this video.

[@LironYan]

Thank you! (: Happy you enjoyed. Never tried cardstock, but I really find that anything that has no texture at all isn't suited for me at the moment haha (I would assume it has a smooth surface, though I may be wrong).

[@getsomecolourinyourlifedav2478]

Great idea, perfect for sketchbooks 👍

[@marciayoung8208]

Liron, I just discovered (from you mentioning brushing from inside to edges) that this is wicked difficult for me! I did an additional squiggly exercise practicing just painting from the center out to the edges. It was really challenging for me for some reason. Thanks so much for your info!

[@oIMADMANIo]

Thanks Dude - just dropped into watercoloring - had a bit of exp in drawing and for me this is such a great way to exercise brush control - thanks & all the best - cheers

[@ColleenM61]

Brilliant idea!

[@LironYan]

Thank you (: I have a few more crazy ideas I'll hopefully share soon!

[@helenrichards4667]

This one and the flat wash with the bead both brilliant and very helpful to me, thank you liron 😊

[@LironYan]

Thank you so much, very happy to help!

[@nadinevandenhende1472]

What a great and fun exercise! Alle your execises are realy helpfull . I love your style and your Lessing, and i love aquarel more and more...

[@cynthiaemerick9517]

very interesting idea for practice. You demos are always helpful.

[@LironYan]

Thank you, I’m happy this helped 😁🙏🏼

[@rainbowfox1934]

This is a wonderful exercise to gain better control of your brush. There is very little in watercolor on brushwork.

[@savioradio]

You are crazy! I love the idea of creating challenges for yourself. Some people just have a natural tendency to do so, I think. Very forward thinking, and typically very successful as a result. It's refreshing that you share your humility too. It's a great way to connect with other people. Thanks again, Liron! I'm working up the guts to send you some of my work. You've helped me a lot with my watercolor and drawing.

[@LironYan]

Thank you so much ^_^ Really happy to hear this. Feel free to share whenever you are ready! Had a really rough day artistically today, so I'll try some easy going exercises for now.

[@SharonPatricia]

What a great exercise to use when I'm afraid to 'mess' on the first pages of a notebook. Fantastic idea. Exceptional videos!

[@LironYan]

Haha I’m happy this helped you 😊🙏🏼 There really is nothing to be afraid of!

[@w.l.691]

I've been doing something similar- practising tonal values with each hue on rubbish paper with lots of different and unsuitable brushes. It does help. However, I have to add that as a child I was made to practice musical scales on the piano really slowly with the expectation that it would be easy to speed up. I never found it so, I've since discovered the real secret whilst cooking- if you want to chop carrots quickly you have to practice chopping them quickly to get more accurate, its no good going slowly then speeding up because the movement is different. Likewise with painting, as long as you're trying to achieve the same thing it will work, but practising something different won't always help!

[@TheKayaker71]

My inner artist & traveler are so opposite on 'control' ... My art :My penmanship, my lineart, glass engraving, sculpting, my photography - all tight as Fort Knox!!! When computer printers emerged, people said I write like a computer ...and I was asked to write something, anything for overly impressed folks. Yet, when I travel, I prefer to have only the vaguest of plans. I pack a ruck sack like a Marine on recon and then plans are forbidden. I love long cheap bus rides, hitchhiking, CouchSurfing with not-yet-met new friends, and as for activities while traveling - "Show me what's fun around here!" ... best trip so far? Feb to Oct 2013, last of my savings $2,500, and a trip up and down the East Coast of the US, and some truly once-in-a-lifetime experiences! I even got to go to The Preacher's Treehouse in Tennessee - climbing to the top! I photographed the whole journey. For my next big journey - maybe in 2021? - I plan to bring my not-pro camera - and replace the big gear's weight with watercolor and sketching materials and GO ... I have a friend in Kathmandu waiting to show me his world. Thank you for sharing your crazy lesson, I'll be squiggling soon!

[@LironYan]

This sounds amazing and very brave! (: I traveled South America for about 4.5 months, but at that time I didn't paint while traveling, which is a shame! But ever since I do, and it's amazing - all of the memories you acquire in the shape of paintings and sketches. You should definitely blog your journey.

[@ann-marielofberg1159]

I Will try this, that’s for sure.

[@LironYan]

😁🙏🏼 Let me know how it goes!

[@marciayoung8208]

Liron, this was an awesome exercise! Practicing with the #12brush in such a way was such fun first working within the squiggly shapes but also teaching me to figure out how to fill in shapes. Great great exercise! You give great helpful extra hints too! Thanks. I am a self teaching amateur and really like your ideas and suggestions.

[@creepin4life102]

Ah love this , def gonna try !(:

[@LironYan]

Happy to hear! (:

[@clarefriend1376]

Haha. Hate thalo blue too. Love this and you drawing exercises. They help when I need a creative boost.

[@LironYan]

Haha I hear ya! Happy to hear this gave you the creative boost you needed (:

[@TheMudcrabsDen]

Liron, you crazy!

[@LironYan]

Haha! A wise man I follow said: "If you want to be an anomaly [in the sense of success] you must act like one" (:

[@momaneglistivali4579]

Great!!!!! Thanksoooooomuch!!!!

[@LironYan]

Haha my pleasure 😁😁🙏🏼

[@agoogleuser8425]

I tired this technique . It is quit a bit challenging but the results are amazing . I am 13 years young boy and want to master watercolors so, this technique helped me a lot to keep my control over the brush. thanks LIRON YANCONSKY

[@LironYan]

Really happy to hear this helped you! (: If you start this young, you have a great head start over many of us (;

[@agoogleuser8425]

Thanks

[@Ruby-wise]

Great exercises..I did some in single and multi-color..did some geometries.. anynexcuse to paint! Tnx

[@LironYan]

My pleasure (: I think I will soon try this very same one in multiple colors as well. Maybe even today!

[@ranjanachand9306]

Sounds sensible 😀

[@new_filler]

I remember seeing something similar to this on your Snapchat!

[@LironYan]

Yes, I actually snapchatted this one in particular! (:

[@LironYan]

@Yasmine S. That's great! To me it took some time to get it in the very beginning. But regardless I wanted to take it to another level (:

[@virginiarparker9503]

Nice

[@MotherGosling]

Hi Liron. I loved this video. My brother was a painter by mouth, and one day i decided to do a painting holding the brush on my mouth like him, just to understand what it was like. Wow that was hard! After that i really appreciated being able to hold the brush in my hand.

[@LironYan]

That’s an amazing story! I remember as a kid I watched once a documentary about people who paint with their mouth, and even feet. It’s incredible what people can overcome and achieve! (:

[@rachelm7525]

Lyn Gosling you know, when he talked about doing this exercise, I immediately thought about mouth and foot painters. What a challenge that must be, but the greater accomplishment, too. I hope you have some of his work.

[@clairebureau5881]

Thanks for the video and the idea! I don't like Phthalo green either, but I recently discovered that mixed with reds it makes beautiful rich darks! Another idea, if you really really want to not waste paint, is to use coffee or tea instead!

[@LironYan]

Haha, thank you (: I actually have a video planned for painting with coffee and tea, although I don't know exactly when I'll record it!

[@anirbanghose994]

Great exercise, it's a real test. One basuc thing, since the paint mix has less water, it tends to dry up quickly while I feel the intricate edges and it looks patchy because of that. What should I do? More watery mixture definitely helps for even wash, but so difficult to control here 😢

[@LironYan]

Hmmm, that’s a good question! A watery mix shouldn’t be much harder to control. But here’s what I do - sometimes when there’s too much of the watery mix on the brush it can indeed go wild. A quick dab on the towel / paper towel / sponge usually solves that. So you still have a watery mix on the brush, but in a smaller quantity. Hope that makes sense, give it a try! 😊

[@anirbanghose994]

@@LironYan Ya, right. I guess figuring out the right amount of water will take some time for me.

[@adriaanvanpijkeren9770]

you should try using only one mixing well on your palette, you will get more variation in your colors

[@LironYan]

Thank you (: I occasionally do that!

[@Flyonlittlewing265]

Excellent tutorial for a beginner. I am recommending it to a friend who is also relatively new to water coloring. P.S. I don't care for phtalogreen either!

[@LironYan]

Haha 😛 Thank you for helping spread the word! (:

[@equesdeventusoccasus]

Cool, Tai Chi painting.

[@LironYan]

😁

[@HornedPandaWasTaken]

What paints do you use? I’m a paint hoarding junkie and love experimenting with new palettes! I don’t need anymore but screw that. The heart wants what it wants 🤷🏻‍♀️

[@LironYan]

Haha 😂 My favorites quality wise are Daniel Smith, M. Graham, White Nights and SAA! Also had great experiences with Schmincke, ShinHan PWC and a bunch more. Let me know if you try any of these!

[@sarojbhuyan5714]

I WANT MORE TUTORIAL. I LIKE IT

[@LironYan]

Thank you ^_^ Working on more of these!

[@Jennifer-wr9si]

Is there some reason you don't rotate your paper/sketchbook to get a better angle?

[@LironYan]

Yes, so that the video will be easier to watch (: When I don't record I do that occasionally.

[@user-dy6fq5gb5j]

Hi Liron what kind of paper you use for your practice?

[@LironYan]

This was done on my Moleskine watercolor sketchbook (: It's decent paper but I like the Canson Montval better, in that category (of pulp paper, not cotton).

[@amysamin]

Another great video. I just painted two pictures holding my brush this way, after hearing it mentioned as a tip for achieving a looser style (as one of your commenters mentioned). Since I wasn't trying to fill in shapes it wasn't that frustrating, but it does take getting used to!

[@LironYan]

Amazing! Yes - it was a great advice so I pinned that specific comment for all to see (; This is indeed another great application of this position / grip.

[@yivelihumekaa9523]

Do you also avoid caffeinated beverages? There's an artist who avoids caffeine so his hands won't be shaky.

[@TerrieJohnson731]

now choose three colors that blend well and gradiate around those negatively ;-)

[@susankievman642]

Try painting with your left hand! That would be really challenging!

[@LironYan]

I did a video on SKETCHING with my right hand (: You may like it! kzbin.info/www/bejne/foKbm5WYfa1nY5I I hope to do one with painting too.

[@rachelm7525]

Pthalo green is similar to the hated Hookers Green, and you know why we hate it? It's not natural! So where in nature do we see that bluey-green, except maybe the sea. A little bit.

[@LironYan]

Haha - this is true (: Luckily, now that I better-know what to mix it with, I'm starting to like it better! It works really well for me with Yellow Ocher.

[@kocindes]

Exactly! Hookers green is wonderful for landscapes, you just HAVE TO mix it.

[@art27styleksu34]

😀👍💖👼

[@LironYan]

😎🙏🏼🎨

[@katerilevasseur]

Liron,,,, If I wouldnt of seen your last name I could of sworn you were French like me.....lol Your accent sounds veryyy French!

[@LironYan]

Haha (: That won't be the first time I hear this. I was also mistaken for Spanish in the past. So weird!

[@TheSgyro]

Oh so like the DragonBallZ guys training at 100 times gravity? 😂

[@LironYan]

Haha yes - exactly the same! I thought about tying weights to my arms while painting, that could be interesting (not really). 😛

[@fghu8511]

Why do i find it easy ? 😅😂

[@LironYan]

Kudos to you 😛